Water-meter.



G. W. TREICHEL.

WATER METER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.7,1913.

1,105,224, Patented July 28, 1914.

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GUSTAV W. TREICHEL, F AMBLER, PENNSYLVANA.

WATER-METER.

- meter in either direction, though when delivered into the outlet portor in the reverse direction to that intended, the meter will registerbackward. This fact has led many unscrupulous persons to reverse theconnection of the meter with the service and house mains for a portionof the period over which the meter is to run between the readings of itsdials for purposes of computing the amount of the charge. The result ofthis is that reversing the connection of the meter with the mains forone-third of the period, the amount of water registered by the meterwould be only one-third of the actual amount used, assuming that theamount oi water actually consumed was uniform or approximately so.

The object of mv invention is to provide the meter structure with meanswhich will prevent its reversal; that is to say, if the meter werereversed in its connections with the street and house mains, it wouldnot permit water to pass, and hence could not register backward. 1n viewof this mode of operation, the disposition to surreptitiously re versethe meter for a portion of the time would cease and insure thelegitimate registration being made.

My invention consists in providing the water passage in the body of themeter between the inlet and outlet terminals thereof with an automaticvalve device, which is normally open for the free passage of water inthe legitimate direction, but which automatically closes under thepressure and flow of the water when the direction of ioW-is reversed,said valvey being positioned within the meter so as to be shielded frombeing tampered with. ,H

My invention also comprehends details of construction which, togetherwith the fea- Specicatonof Letters Patent. A

tures above specified, will be better understood by reference to thedrawings, in

which Y. f

Figure l is a sectional elevation of a water meter embodying myimprovements; Fig. l2

is a plan view of the base of the meter case,

the upper vmechanism of the meter being removed; and Fig. 3 is lasectional view o part of the meter case on line m-w of Fig. 2 tor moreclearly showing the position of the valve.

The general construction of the water me-y ter, here shown, is onefformof meter in use and is illustrated as an example of a meter for moreparticularly explaining the nature of my inventionandV notby wayoflimitation. The case or body 2 of the meter comprises the base part 2ayhaving the inlet and outlet ports and the upper part 2c having thechamber 5, which contains the operative mechanism.

The baise 2a is provided with chamber 3 in communication with the outletport boss4 and it also is provided ywithchanfiber 5a in communicationwith the inlet port boss 6. lThis chamber 5l opens into chamber 5 of the`Patented July 28, 1914. Application inea Ap'rn 7, 1913. serial No.759,295.

upper body part 2. Fitted over the chamber 8 is the measuringcylinder 7having they bottom 7a, a vertical partition l0, an inlet port 11 on oneside of the partition, and an i outlet port 18 on the other side of thepartition. -Within this cylinder is an oscillating or wobbling disk 9having a ball hub 8 provided with a stem Sa which acts as a rotatingcrank to operate the gearing 16 for actuating i the registering devicesin the case 17. The outlet port 18 discharges downward through a valveseat 18 `and port 12 into the chamber 3, and thence to the outlet portof the port boss 4. A. hinged valve piece 14 is hinged at 15 close tothe valve seat 13 and normally hangs down (Figs. 1 and 3) to provide anopen passage for the water. Y

So long as the meter is properly connected with the street and housemains to cause the water to enter at boss 6 and escape at boss 4, themeter will operate normally and register the quantity of water passedthrough it; but

ifthe meter is reversed by connecting the Fin such connection. In thisway, the proper registering of all water used is insured. The failure tooperate when in reversed connection is due to the fact that the currentof water in rushing upward through the passage l2 forces the pivotedvalve le upward against its seat 13 and stops the flow to the metercylinder and piston.

The valve 14 is gravity actuated, so as not to be dependent upon othermechanism for its operation or become clogged, but l do not confinemyself to this type of valve. The valve is located out of alinement withthe outlet port so that it cannot be tampered with to lock it in openposition and is preferably on the discharge side of the piston andcylinder mechanism, but my invention broadly vwill only require anautomatic or self-closing valve located at some place in the waterpassage between the inlet and outlet ports. I have shown a hinged platevalve acting as a normally open check valve because of its simplicityand reliability, and also because it gives a large opening, but l do notrestrict myself as to the shape or character of this valve, as it may beof any suitable construction and located in such position as theconstruction of the meter proper may require.

l do not restrict myself to any specific construction of meter, as myinvention may be adapted to any of the meters now or hereafter placedupon the commercial market, the illustration herewith given, being byway of example only.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. ln-a water meter, the combination of a body part having inlet andoutlet ports for connection respectively with the usual street and housemains, and also having a circuitous passage for water connecting thesaid inlet and outlet ports, operating mechanism for registering theamount of water which passes through the said passage, a valve seathorizontally arranged across said circuitous passage at a point out ofalinement With either said inlet or outlet ports, and a freely movablevalve piece loosely hinged at one side of the valve seat and adapted tonormally depend therefrom under the action of gravity to permit free Howof water through the valve seat in one direction of flow, but

yadapted to be closed against the valve seat by the pressure of thewater flowing in the opposite direction through said passage.

2. In a water meter, the combination of a body part having inlet andoutlet ports for connection respectively with the usual street and housemains, and also having a laterally disposed passageway for water,following substantially the contour of the body part and communicatingat its respective ends with the said inlet and outlet ports, operatingmechanism for registering the amount of water which passes through saidpassage, a valve seat horizontally arranged across said passage andlocated out of alinement with either said inlet or outlet port, and at adistance therefrom, and a freely movable valve piece loosely hingedV atone side of the valve seat and adapted to normally depend therefromunder the action of gravity to permit free iiow of water through thevalve seat in one direction of flow, but adapted to beclosed against thevalve seat by the pressure of the water flowing in the oppositedirection through said passage.

In testimony of which invention, I hereunto set my hand.

GUSTAV W. TREICHEL.

Witnesses:

A R. M. HUNTER, A. M. KELLY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

